The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-02-09
AUGUST AND NINA.
A Marriage by Proxy Contracted BE.
tween Anarchist Spies and
Miss Van Zandt.
A Sooialistic Justice Performs the 0ere-
mony-Spies' Brother Acts as
Proxy.
From the Chicago Tribune. |

Ever since Sheriff Matson declared that Miss
Van Zandt should not marry August Spies the
young lady has been more than ever resolved that
she would doit The determination was chiefly
on her side, Spies being measurably Indifferent
on the subject. So she SGT her wits to work,
and has kept them ut work ever since the mar
riage ceremony was forbidden, TO devise some
way in which To deceive the adversary. She
spread abroad the report that she was going
South or going to Europe, in order TO throw the
Sheriff OF his guard and all the while kept
up her plotting and planning. Among
others whom she consulted as TO how
TO ciTcumvent Sheriff Matson was Justice
Engelhardt, of Jefferson, who is somewhat OF
n Spies sympathizer and who made IA speech
at n meeting at jefferson a few months ago,
which was rather stronger than common sense
would have dictated Justice Engelhardt,
being wise beyond his generation, studied up
the law, helped by an unknown attorney, and
came to the conclusion that the only way in
which the Sherihs veto could be evaded was
by marriage by proxy. He figured IL out in
some way that that would constitute q valid
marriage, probably misled by his recollections
OF various royal personages whom no had read
Of at one time and another being married by
up IA proper form or power of attorney, and
after much laboring he succeeded in getting 1t
ready last Friday.
Saturday morning Miss Van Zandt and Miss
Spies got the document and took IL to the
County Jail, where Mrs Ferdinand Spies and q
Mrs. Wendland witnessed Spies signature to
the paper by which he authorized his brother
Henry 10 represent him at the ceremony. Then
they-Aiiss Van Zandt's parents and Henry.
Chris and Ferdinand Spies, brothers Of August
went out to Justice Engelhardts house in
Jefferson and the ceremony was performed,
after the Justice had again thought over tho
matter and satisfied himself That he was COR
rect in his position. 1t went of just rs II usu-
ally does in Justices Office except that Henry
Spies armed with his proxy or power OF attor-
ney, answered 10 tho name of August Vincent
Theodore, and, as his repres entative, said that
he took Miss Van Zandt 10 be his wife. IL was
late at night when this interesting ceremony
was performed and midnight before the party
got back Co their various homes.
AS an act of defiance to Sheriff Matson the
thing is well enough, but when Justice Engel-
hardt comes TO return the marriage license to
tine County Clerk, as he is required to do, and
cartifes that be married the parties named in
it he will be apt TO hear something from that
official, for marriage by proxy is II thing
unknown TO the laws OF the United states,
or to the law of England The form of mar
riage by proxy was never itself the marriage
was never anything more than II beuothal
and was always followed by religious
case it is nothing moro than n contract OF
marriage which has been entered into. II
either of tine parties breaks the contract the
other has the right to sue for damages, but not
for specific performance. Should Spies be
hanged in n few months Miss Van Zandt would
not be his widow; she would have no right TO
boar his name; she could not inherit his prop
crty she would have no dover right in his es-
tate she would stand on precisely the same
footing as if he had written her proposal OF
marriage, and she had replied accepting it
only that and nothing more. Marriage by
proxy" sounds we'll but it is not marriage by
common statutory, or canon law